Murder of Jorge Torres

Jorge Torres Jr., a 42-year-old American man, suffocated to death on February 24, 2020, in Winter Park, Florida after being zipped into a suitcase. Jorge's height was 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) and he weighed 103 pounds (47 kg).^[1]

His girlfriend, then 42-year-old Sarah Boone, was arrested the following day for second-degree murder after agreeing to a police interview. She was convicted on October 25, 2024 and subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

Boone's legal proceedings drew attention in part from Boone's written correspondence with the judge and a number of defense lawyers withdrawing from the case.^[2]

Prior to his death, Torres had been arrested multiple times for alleged instances of domestic violence against Boone and she had been arrested one time for an alleged instance of domestic violence against Torres. Boone had been arrested once for alleged battery by strangulation against Torres in July 2018 when both Boone and Torres were arrested; however, her charge in that case was dismissed. Torres had been arrested four times for alleged battery against Boone; Boone bailed Torres out of jail each time.^[3]

On February 24, 2020, Sarah Boone called 9-1-1 and told them that her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, was dead. Boone claimed that she and Torres had a single bottle of wine and then decided to play hide-and-seek. She claimed that they thought it would be funny to put him in the suitcase, and that they were both laughing. She stated that she then went upstairs and accidentally fell asleep, leaving Torres in the suitcase.^[4] Torres' death was ruled a homicide.^[5]

During the on-site investigation, Sarah Boone willingly turned over her phone to forensic investigators. A search of the phone found two videos that Boone had taken the night before. The videos showed Boone laughing as Torres pled for help inside the suitcase, with Boone stating, "That's what you do when you choke me" and "That's what I feel like when you cheat on me".^[6] Boone was interviewed by Detectives at the Police department the following day. Boone stated that she did not remember recording the videos.^[5][7][8]

Boone was subsequently charged with second-degree murder for killing Torres and held in Orange County jail without bail. Eight different attorneys who represented her withdrew, seven of them being court appointed.^[9] Judge Michael Kraynick ruled that Boone had forfeited her right to court-appointed counsel.^[10][11][12] On July 18, 2024, at a hearing where Boone was representing herself, she submitted a letter which included a hand drawn advertisement for a lawyer.^[13] The advertisement was circulated by media reporting on the filing, and Boone found representation by attorney James Owens.^[14] Owens met with state prosecutors about a possible plea agreement to the charge of manslaughter in exchange for a 15-year sentence, which Boone ultimately rejected.^[15][16]

After multiple delays, including one due to Hurricane Milton, the trial began on October 14, 2024.^[17] A jury of six with eight alternates was sworn in, and on October 18, 2024, Assistant State Attorney William Jay began opening arguments.^[18] The defense argued that Boone suffered from battered woman syndrome.^[19][20] Assistant State Attorney Dave Cacciatore Jr. began closing arguments on October 25, 2024, and on the same day after less than two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict for second-degree murder. On December 2, 2024, Sarah Boone was sentenced to life in the Florida Department of Corrections.^[21][22]